Steering-gear for vehicles.



D. E. ROSS. STEERING GEAR EUR VEHICLES.

' APPLICATION FILED MAY l0, 1907.

PATENTED EEB.` 18, 1908.

DAVID E. ROSS,

0F BROKSTON, INDIAN, ASSiGNOR TO THE ROSS .iF/AR AND TOOL COiliPAN'Y, OF LA FAYETTE, INDIANA, A CQRFURATION OF INDIANA.

Specification of Letters Iatent.

atented Feb. 18, 1908.

Application tilel May l0. 1907. Serial. No, 32285.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that i, Devin Ross, residing at Brookston, in the county oi lhite and State of Indiana, have invented a certain 'new and useful Improvement in Steering- Gear tor Vehicles, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

rhis invention relates to steering` ine-chanisin `tor automobiles and the like, and it has for its object the production ot a device of this character as shall 1oe securely locked against backward movement, and that shali he simple in construction, etoient in operation, and compact in structure.

in my application iilefl May le, LQG, Serial No. $145,594-, l disclosed a steering gear for vehicles that einhodies seine of the prin-- ciples ol my present invention; hut inlthoft onse, the oranti arno th t is connected to the steeringr knuckles open. t \s in a plane transverse to the hodj` of the vehicle. in my p resent invention this crank arm operates in a plane that is longitudinai of the hotly ot the vehicle, which construction preferable to the other for the reason that the steering column is capable of a Wider range of location.

in the accompanying drawings forming a part of this application, Figure i a longitudinal section through the steeringoolnnin, the saine being taken on iine l--l of f2. Fig. Z'is a longitnrlinai section through the housing, the saine heilig taken on line 2 ot Fig. il. Fig. 3 is perspective. View ci the nut or ineniher which travels and rotates i.- the housing, and Fig. 4f is aplan View of iront end of automobile showing tl o 'manner in which my invention is applied to such a vehicle.

it will 'loe nnflerstoori that steering for autoniohiie and the like are required to be so constructed that if one the gronni wheels shouldl strike an obstruction', the course oi the automobile will not he deieoted. ln order to insure against such fievlection, i use two members which are threaded together by iong threads in. such manner that, when the power .is plied in one direction, said members may liel easi'lr moved longitudinaliy oi each other, so as to )reduce a rotation in one of said members,

ut When the power is applied in the reverse direction, the said members will resist such turning movement.

grooves i, said threads being 'of long pitch. 1Within said part 2 i provide a tuhuisr not ornneinher 5, the saine being shown in persoeotive in i"- 3. This ineinber is provided on its exterior with spiral rihs 6 which into the threads or grooves 4e in the housing. Freni this description it he understood that, the housingr being held against rotation, a longitudinal movenient of the ineniber wiii also canse said nieniher to rotate 'within the housing.

The ineinher 5 has a longitudinal opening 7 therein, said opening being designed to receive with. a sliail iit the horizontal arni 3 of the steenng anni; 9, This horizontal irovided with longitudinal ribs l0 erin is i t into the operonsT 'I so that any rotatuon of 5 2 f u 'lhe arm tl, and the ellos tl'zereon are considerwhich il Vthf ineinher 5 will produce a correo lv longer than the nieinhor .E1A so tnat the tponilinbl swin inovenient oi'- the crank.

niev have longitudinal motion on said as u latter arm.

it will he understood.' that the arm 8 vv may he square or any action so long; as the rotation o produces a corresponding 'ne arni. M to produce the low iui'dinal movee nieinhel 5 iv ii the housing, T provide l member with transverse grooves as sho-H in' The@ grooves and the portions therebetween are in el'ect is a rocking rackth mesh the teeth. of a pinion lin-ving its hearing in v part 3 ot the housingK l, the ol said pinion 1seing at right angles to the axis of the cov of the ribs 6, so that, as theinember turns, the teeth will be in properposition for engegement by the pinion. of the teeth 1i are ilnttened somewhat, as shown, in order that a substantiel line of contact between the teeth and the' pinion will always be provided.

The pinion 12 is secured to the lower endv of the steering,r column 13 in .any suiteble manner, the dranlngs showing the pnnon es having en extended. huh or sleeve le. that 1s serewethreaded at 15 into the interior ol seid l column.

, T' sleeve 14 is of smaller diameter than the pinion so that en annuler shoul'iler 15 is provided, between which and the lower end of the steering column i place a Washer 16. Thisl Washer else rests against an-internal shoulder or flange 17 in the part 3 of the housing, and'is held in place against said shouldeil h v a sleeved nut18thet is threaded into the said part 3. lhis washer therefore serves to hold the pinion against longitudinal movement. i

From. the vahove description it `will ne understood that 'as the steering column 13' is rotated, which meyibe accomplished in any suitable manner, the pinion 12 will be rotator.' and will move longitudinally the rack member 5 within the part 2 of the housing. member 5 causes the samelto'turn, and thereby produce a rocking movement of the' steer- 111g erenk. .p

The application of the device to en antomobiie or similar vehicle is snown .in Fig. f1., in which 1Q as the 'l-.ame et the'vehiole, are the iront ground Wheels that are mounted upon the steering knuckles 21. These knuckles are connected together by means of the ber 232 so that a niove'inent of one l"knuckle will produce e. corresponding move Ament oi' the other knuckle.

against an externally threaded cap-nut 26 fthet screws into the end ot the part'Z of the housing, the arm 8 being' journaled in seid 'cap-nut. This latter nut serves not o1 y es a means for holdino the erin S in ro `er osi tion, butfes a means for preventing' the entrance of dust and. other matter into the heus.

ing. At the opposite end of the psi-rt i2 ofthe housing, the arm 8 lis journeled in sin exte riorly threaded cap-nut "37 that screws into the said housing, said nnt also serving to pre- .lhe outer parts Same consisting` otaflet spr'.

This longiturinal movement of `thel ing with the said screw threads sans@ vent the entrance of dust into the i'iousing'v Any suitable means may be provided for preventingwhe nuts 18, 26 and 27 from eccidentaliy turning. In the dre/wings, .i have illustrated s device ivl'iieh i prefer to use, the

28 that is secured. to 'the housing, the-sinne having en inwardly extending pin 29 that is adepted'to project intesnitahly positioned notches or holes in the seid nuts. By simply forcing outwardly the springs, the pins will dis gege the .nuts end the l. i, vr may then he turned, desireail.

in order to se .nre itl e cle, .i provide the o suitable hase plate 30,

irongh 'which the seine may be bolted to the vehicle,

shown en( described my pre- 'While I hes/e ferred form oi construe-tion, the details oi the same .may modified, and if desire it to he understood thatie tng cieiins ere not limitedto the deteiis shown eny further than is made y hy the eny 1rees ie-nguage of the following claims.

Having described. my investi. n, .l claim:

1. "in e vehicle, ground Wheels, e ree-k, e pinion meshing wi th said reck for movingthe. seme longitudinally, ineens ier turning seid rack asit is. thus moved, e .d eonneetions hetween said reek end ground Wheels whereby turning movement.imparted tothe rack .toms the 'Wheels 'tor steering the vehieie.' i

2. in a vehicle, ,Ground Wheeis', seek, "a

D 1 pinion me hwg v th said reels; i'oi moving i saine lonnit nilinallj/f, ineens for turning ree itis thus moved, a steer g ool'ninn connected with the pinion for' turning the saine. crank. connected with end turned by end connections between said crank d said ground wheels whereby the turning;

,i1 ovenient imparted to the re'ek turns the wheels for Steering the vehicle.'

in steering mechanism for vehicles, a housing that is provided with-interior screw threads, member within seid housingr enga-- seid .screw threeds, means 'for Inoving seid member .longitudinally in the heus` ing, whereby the said serew threads @euse the ymemher Ato turn, ground Wheels, end eonnections between saidniember and said ground Wheels, Wherehv the turning movement imparted to seidl member Vwill also turn the .Wheels l'or steeringr the vehicie,

,4. In steering mechanism for vehicles., e housing;- that is provided with interior Screw threads, `k within. seid housingd having means projec ing .into said screw threads, e pinion engaging with rsek for moving' the' letter longitndin e115T in the housing, 'whereby the reck to turn, ground Wheels, and connes tions between said reel; .and said @round .wheels wh eby'tlhe turning-nn en it imparted to said rack 'vf/"ill else tnin the whee'ie steer 'les lIn steering mechanism for vehicles, a housingthet is provided on its interior with spirelly arranged grooves, e member within seid housing, seid member having projecting 5 parts extending into the grooves ing, yseid member also being provided With transverse grooves forming 'gear teeth, e pin ion journaled in the housing and meshingr with said transverse grooves, e'steering'column connected with seid pinion, ground Wheels, and connections between' seid inember and said'ivheels, the construction being such that, as the pinion is turned by thesteering column, the member Will be moved longitudinellyin the housing sind Will be caused Ato turn therein by the grooves on the housing, which turning movement, will, through the Aconnections vwith the ground Wheels, turn the latter for steering the vehicle.

6, In steering mec-hensm for vehicles, 'e housing thet is provide fon its interior With spirelly arranged grooves, a tubular member Within said housing, seid member having project-ing parts extending,` into the grooves oi the housing, seid member also being provided with transverse grooves forming gear teeth, pinion journale'd'in thehousing ,und 'meshing with seid groove`s,meens for `turning seid pinion, e crank member extending through the tubular member and being adapted to '.turn therewith, ground wheels, end connections betvreen seid crank member andsoid Wheels, the construction being such. that, es the pinion .is moved longit inallyin the housing and Will be lrinsed to tL in therein by the grooves on thehousing, which turning movement will, tnrough the crank member and its connections With the ground Wheels, turn the latter 40 for steering the vehicle.

7. 1n :t steering mechanism for vehicles, a housingr that is provided on its interior with spirnlly arranged grooves, e rock withi n said housing, said rack having parte projecting into the grooves of the housing, n pinion jourlniled in seid housing and engaging seid rock, e steering column for turning seid pinion, ground wheels, o crunk connected with said ruck, and connections between seid crank :ind seid ground Wheels, the construction being such that, the pinion is turned, the ruck will be moved longitudinally and the grooves in the housing will cuuse the c rznli to be turned, whereby, through its connections with the ground Wheels, the hitter will be turned for steering the vehicle.'

8. ln steering mechanism' for vehicles, n housing hovingtwo tubular parte `with their axes in plancsnt right ongles to erich other, e() one of said ports boing provided on ils inl'e rior with spirully arranged grooves, u ruck Witbinsoid port, seid ruck having projecting portions extendingl into the grooves oi the housing, s pinion journnled in the olher tuof the bonsturned, the member will bel meshing with the recit, s steering column connected-With seid pinion, ground Wheels for the' vehicle, end connections between the rack ond seid ground Wheels, the construction beingsueh that, when the steering vcolumn is turned, the pinion will move the recklongif tudinelly Within the housing, While the grooves in the letter will, turn the rack and thus, through its connections with the ground Wheels, turn seid Wheels to steer the vehicle.

9. In steering mechanism for vehicles, e housing having 'two tubular parte with their` axes inplenes et right ongles to erich other, one of said ports being provided on its interior with spirelly arranged grooves, e tubular reel; within said pit-rt, seid rack heving projecting portions extending into-the grooves of the housing, e pinion journoled in the other tubular portion of the housing, seid pinion meshing; with the rech, e steering column con nected with seid pinion, a crunk member extending through the tubular rack, the rack sliding upon but turning seid member, ground Wheels for the vehicle, and connections between the crank member end sfiid ground wheels, the' construction being such that, when the column is turned, Ythe pinion will move the recit longitudinally Within the housing, while the grooves in the letter 'will turn the re-ck and the' crank inem-- ber, and thus, through the'conne'ctions with the ground wheels, .torn said .Wheels to steer the vehicle. Y

10. lfn steering mechanism. for vehicles, e, housing that is iorrned of two tubular p0rtlons, then i of seid portions being in plenes et right angles to Voooh other, one of said tubuler portions being provided on its interior with s {iirally arranged grooves, cepnuts closing the ends oi'that portion ot' the housing having the grooves, treni; erm. journaled in seid csp-nuts, seid erm beine' provided with e steering cronk, groan( wheels lor the vehicle, connections between seid ground -wheels and seid steer" ig crank, e, rock inef-mber Within that portion of the housing carrying the crank erm, seid rake .member on., 'ng with, said erin and with tbc spiral grooves' in the housing, a pinion engaging with the rnclr member, seid pinion being iouruziled in the other tubular portion ol the housing, sind ineens for turning seid pinion, the construction being such that, as, the pinion is turned, the rech member Will be moved longitud iimllv within the housing and will slide upon seid eronl erin, the grooves in v the housing tuiuii'in the rnemlier and the crunk erm, which. through its connections with the ground wheels, turns the letter for steering.

ll. ln steering iucibunism for vehicles, a. housing that is formed ol' two tubular portions, the axes of seid portions being inv bular portion of the housing, seid pinion i planes et right :ingles to ezieb. other, one of 13G i other tubular portion of the housing, steerlng column ior turning sind pin 3o in the housing, means for turning smid 35 armv journsied in seid conA 'arm passing through ine rack member and f: "is:

said tubular pe tions being pi interior with spiriilly arranged grooves, cspnnts closing the ends oi" that portion of the. 'housing having tbe grooves, cru-nk erm 5 journaled in seid. cup-nuts, seid erin being provided with i steering crnnli', ground Wheels for the vehicle, eonnectio between said ground wheels und seid effing crunk, zi tubular ruoli member Within Athat portion of the housingI cerrying the crunk erin, seid rack member sliding upon and turning seid srni und engaging with tbe spiriti Prod s in the housing, u pinion engnging with 'the reci; member, seid pinion being journiileil in the and :i ion, the construction beiiiig suoli that :is thc pinion is turned the rock member Willi be moved iongitudinally Within 'the vhousing und will slide upon said crank erin, the grooves in the housing 'turning the member und t crank erm, i inch., 'through its conne o vi i h the ground Wheeis, turns the latter for steering.

l2. in steering inechunisi'n vehicles, :i

housing that is provided on its interior with spirally arranged grooves, reci; member Within seid housing and engaging with seid grooves7 s pinion engaging with the sui d rock member for moving the letter longitudinally i inion, iii/herebyv is the pinion is turned, the rack memberivill be moved long' fu din silly end will be caused to rotate fis ii is thus moved, cspnucs closing ie ends ofv the housing, s crank nts, said crank engaging the saine in such uni-nner that the rotation of sind member wili turn the crank arm, ground wheels for the vehicie, und con* 40 nectionsbetween seid ground Wheels andthe crankerm, whereby the. turning movement imparted to the crank erin by the rack Incinber Will'turn vthe ground wheels ior steering.

13. In steering mechanism for vehicles, a

housing that is provided on its interior with spirelly arranged grooves, e` ruck member Within seid housing, und engaging with seid grooves, ai pinion engaging with the said rack member 'for moving the iutter longitudi'nally in thc hiiinsing, means for turning said pinion, whereby es the pinion is turned, the recit member will be moved longitudinally and will be caused. to rotate es it is thus moved, cepoints closing the ends oi the.

housing, means for holding seid csp-.nuts

from accidentel turning', s, crank arm journ n'al'ed. in seid csp-nuts, c ank erm possing through the 'r ck member whereby the rotation of seid `member l turn the crunk.

Gofnrm, ground. ".vheeis' for the vehicle, steering knuckles upon. which seid .wheels are jourholed, :ind coi'inecions between said crunk 'ovided on .its arm and the steering knuckles whereby the iin-ning nioven'ient imparted to the crank arm by the ruck member Will turn the ground Wheels for steering.

14. in steering mechanism for' vehicles, a'

housing that is provided on its interior With spirslly arranged grooves, s tubular rack member Within ssid housing end engaging with seid grooves, a pinion meshing-With seid rect: member for moving the latter longitudinslly in the housing, means for turning said pinion, whereby, as the pinion iiirned, the rock member Will be moved longitudinally and Will be caused` to Irotate as it is thus moved, csp-nuts closing the ends of the housing, springs mounted on the A housing, pins on seid springs pesslng through the housing und engaging with .the cap-nuts to prevent the letter from eccidentelly turning, e crank arm journsled in said oepnuts, sind crenk erin psssmg through the tnbuier rock member so that the rotation ci seid member Wiii turn the cienk erm', ground Wheels for the vehicle und connections bef tween said crank erin and seid ground Wheeis, whereby the turning movement imparted to the crank erm by the rack member Will turn the ground Wheeis for' steering. l5. In steering mechanism for vehicles, s

housing formed of two tubular parte with their axes. in plenos 'right ang/ies to each other, one of seid parte being provided on its interior with spirelly arranged grooves, e rack within said part, said ruckhsving projecting portions extending into the grooves .of the housing, e pinion journeled in the the' pinion being ing, ground wheeis for the vehicie and'conm nections between said ground- Wheels. sindl said .rack such that, as the pinion is turned.y

and the mok is moved within .the housing,

ground wheels for steering. ,f l

In testimony whereof', l hereunto siix mv signature in` the presence of two Witnesses..

Divin n. Ross;

Vitnesses:

D. EL Ross, JOSEPH Bossi'.

.the reci; 'will turn end' therebyturnthe It is hereby certifled that the name of the first-men tiene@ witness in Letters Patent No. 879,414, granted FebruvarywlS, 1908, upon the application of David E. Boes, of Brookstou, Indiana', for tu improvement in Steeling-Gear for Vehces, was erron ueously printed D. E. Ross, Whereas the said trame should have been 'printed l). L. Ross; and that the said Letters Patent Should oe read with this correction therein that the same may conform Ato the record of the oase in the Patent Ooe.

Signed and sealed this 10th day of March, A. D., 1908.

[SEAL] C. C. BILLINGS,

Acting Commissioner ofPae-ots. 

